Around the world, people are concerned about the health of democracy. Many want to become more involved but are unsure where to begin, which information to trust, or what kind of action would make a meaningful difference.
Thrive2: United for Democracy and Global Action is designed to help people find those next steps.
Produced by Actionable Innovations Global in partnership with the Charter for Compassion, Thrive2 is a free virtual gathering and community experience taking place on September 10 and September 17, 2026. It will bring together educators, librarians, youth leaders, nonprofit professionals, community organizers, democracy practitioners, civic innovators, and everyday citizens who want to strengthen democratic participation in their communities.
Our central question is simple but urgent:
How can we help more people become informed, confident, connected, and active participants in democratic life?
Helping People Find a Pathway to Participation
Civic engagement can take many forms. It may involve helping young people develop media literacy skills, attending a local government meeting, volunteering with a community organization, supporting trustworthy local journalism, organizing neighbors around an issue, facilitating conversations across differences, or helping people understand how decisions are made where they live.
Thrive2 will help participants explore these possibilities, connect with people doing effective work, and identify realistic actions they can take within their own schools, organizations, networks, and communities.
The experience is organized around a practical progression:
Learn → Connect → Act → Report Back
Participants will not simply listen to presentations. They will discover resources, practice civic skills, ask questions, make connections, and leave with a concrete next step they can take within 7–30 days.
We Are Looking for Organizations with Tools and Programs to Share
Many organizations have already developed valuable civic engagement programs, teaching resources, organizing tools, discussion guides, digital platforms, volunteer opportunities, research, and community-based initiatives. Thrive2 can help those resources reach people who are actively looking for ways to participate.
We especially want to hear from organizations working in areas such as:
- Civic learning and youth participation
- Community organizing and coalition building
- Media literacy and information resilience
- Local democracy and civic infrastructure
- Voting rights and voter engagement
- Community dialogue and bridging differences
- Civic technology and digital democracy
- Human rights, inclusion, and democratic participation
- Resilience, compassion, and sustainable activism
Organizations may participate in several ways. They can propose an interactive workshop, demonstrate a resource, facilitate a solution-focused conversation, contribute a short recorded spotlight, share a toolkit or program with the Thrive Democracy Action Library, or help connect participants with opportunities for continued involvement.
Sessions should be practical, inclusive, and action-oriented. We are particularly interested in contributions that give participants something useful they can apply, adapt, or share soon after the event.
Learn More at Our Informational Meeting
We are hosting a free informational meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM Central Time.
During the meeting, we will explain the vision for Thrive2, the different ways individuals and organizations can participate, the available presentation formats, and what we are seeking through the Call for Proposals. There will also be time for questions.
Register for the Thrive2 informational meeting
Join Thrive2 for Free
Registration for Thrive2 is free. Whether you are already deeply involved in democracy work or are simply trying to determine where you can make a difference, you are welcome.
Submit a Proposal
We welcome proposals from experienced democracy practitioners as well as first-time presenters, community leaders, educators, organizers, students, nonprofit organizations, librarians, civic technologists, and others with practical knowledge or resources to share.
Collaborative proposals are encouraged, particularly those that bring together people from different sectors or communities.
The Call for Proposals closes on August 31, 2026, and proposals are being reviewed on a rolling basis.
Democracy is strengthened when people believe their participation matters, understand the avenues available to them, and feel supported as they take action. Thrive2 is an invitation to move beyond concern, find a meaningful role, and join others who are working to build more compassionate, participatory, and resilient communities.
We hope you will join us—and help others find their pathway to civic engagement.
